Importance of Ashes

Momo and Cassia's baby's ashes symbolize sorrow. After the baby is stillborn, Momo refuses to let Cassia see the baby. All she has of him are his ashes. She carries the ashes with her in a tin can throughout the years, and all the way to America. When she and Momo are reunited, they take the ashes and deposit them in the ocean, thus symbolizing their work to reconcile with and let go of their hurt and sorrow.